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Sex attacker ‘to be pitied’

A 22-year-old Brockworth man who sexually assaulted a woman in her own home is 'to be pitied rather than punished,' a judge said.

At Gloucester crown court Richard Richardson of Moorfield Road, Brockworth, was made the subject of a mental health hospital order after two psychiatrists agreed he has an illness needing treatment.

Richardson had been waiting in custody for sentence since last July when a jury cleared him of breaking into the woman's home and trying to rape her. He admitted he had indecently assaulted her during the incident.

Prosecutor Kerry Barker said the victim was getting ready to go away the next day and two friends called round to help while she had a manicure.

The defendant, whom she knew, turned up at her flat and forced his way in, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into a bedroom, Mr Barker alleged. There, he claimed, Richardson held the woman by her hair, pushed her head towards his groin, and tried to make her give him oral sex.

After his arrest Richardson said he said he just 'wanted to humiliate her. '

Judge Jamie Tavor QC told him "This has been a very, very long journey indeed.

"It has been evident to everyone since the first time you appeared at this court that you have been very unwell.

"That is not your fault. You have an illness. It has taken a long time for two psychiatrists to decide that you have a form of illness.

"They are not entirely sure how to specify it but it has a degree of psychosis in it and a depressive element as well.

"They want to identify precisely what it is so they can treat you properly and really make you as well as you can be.

"This is a case where you are to be pitied rather than punished. You will be treated. Good luck - go and get better."

Campaign of intimidation

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Dental hygienist Florin Raru, 30, who subjected his partner to a lengthy campaign of harassment and intimidation during which he threatened to rape and kill her, has narrowly avoided a jail term.

The Romanian national, who lives and works in Cheltenham, was told by a judge yesterday that his behaviour towards Ophelia Wiedenhamer and her two daughters from September 2014 till April last year had been 'reprehensible.'

He had been domineering towards his partner, stolen nearly all her possessions from her, and told lies which led to one of her daughters being temporarily taken into care and the other arrested, said the judge.

During the week long trial, the jury heard that Raru had his name tattooed on Ms Wiedenhamer's neck and then told her “I own you now.”

Judge James Johnson told Raru that the jury had seen a different side of him to the one portrayed in the glowing references.

"The jury found you were a liar and they found you had abused your partner over a substantial period time," said the judge.

"Your view of the relationship portrays you either as a liar or completely deluded. I am sure that you repeatedly threatened her with violence and I have no doubt you threatened to rape her. At the last meeting with her you threatened to kill her.

"There has been no remorse on your part that you clearly caused a huge amount of emotional distress to her."

Raru was given a 15 months jail term suspended for 2 years and ordered to do 25 days of rehabilitation activities. He was also ordered to pay £750 costs.

The judge said he hoped the rehabilitation work would help Raru address his 'warped view' of women and lead to him becoming a 'better citizen who treats partners with dignity and respect.'

‘Wreck of a life’

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A 28-year-old Cheltenham woman who admitted stealing £100 from a vulnerable man with learning difficulties has avoided jail.

Gloucester crown court heard yesterday that Thelma Lawrence rifled through Alan Hayward's pockets to take the money from him in his own home.

Lawrence, of Grove Street, Cheltenham, who was tearful throughout yesterday's hearding as Judge Ian Lawrie QC described her as having “a wreck of a life.”

The judge imposed a two year jail term suspended for two years, with twenty five days of rehabilitation activities with a probation worker.

The offence took place on 24th January this year. Holder also admitted being in possession of criminal property, namely £5,115 cash, on the same date.

He said Holder had been sentenced to a four year jail term on 12th June 2015 for biting part of a man's ear off. He would have been on licence with probation for that offence when he committed these latest crimes.

Mr Maloney said that he also hoped to submit references about Holder. He said his client was happy to be sentenced over the video link from Hewell Prison.

The judge agreed saying: “I'll adjourn the case until 29th March for sentence, so that there can be a report about the progress on your current order.